Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, unveiled a packed programme of "September engagements" to a select group of journalists on Thursday night, including a headline slot at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York.
The New York event, themed "How Do We Get It Right?", takes place the week after next, with Harry appearing as a headliner. It is not clear whether the prince is being paid to attend or simply having his costs covered.
The Clinton Global Initiative was founded by former US president Bill Clinton and brings together political, business and charity leaders to work on global issues.
UK Engagements and a Palace Clash
Much of Harry's September programme is UK-based. His appearances include the inaugural "Invictus Spirit" Awards on Thursday, September 17, with some suggestion that the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, could join him.
That creates a scheduling overlap with the working royal family. The Prince and Princess of Wales announced on Friday that they will carry out a "royal away-day" to the Isle of Bute on the same day.
The trip will be their first official visit to Rothesay, the town that gave its name to the titles they hold in Scotland, Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, where they are due to spend time with locals at the Anchor Tavern.
Harry and Meghan pictured together at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in 2023.
King Charles also has a major public engagement scheduled for that day. Details have not been released in advance, though it is understood to be an event of significant global interest.
There is currently no diary coordination between Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Harry's team, raising the chances of further scheduling clashes as the month continues.
Buckingham Palace and the Sussex Letter
The clash comes weeks after Buckingham Palace's most senior official, Lord Benyon, the Lord Chamberlain, sent a letter setting out the limits of the roles Harry and Meghan can play now that they are back in Britain, describing them as "private citizens." The letter sparked a backlash from the couple's camp.
Spokesmen for the Sussexes initially expressed "surprise" at the letter before mounting a run of briefings accusing the palace of "rushing out" the letter, of refusing to let them "clarify" its contents in advance, and of causing the Ugandan team to pull out of the Invictus Games, the sporting event Harry founded for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.
'Private Citizens' Dispute
The part of the letter said to have caused the most friction was the suggestion that the couple's charitable and commercial work should be treated as separate from that of the wider royal family, given their status as private citizens. A source close to the couple, described as incandescent, said this was unrealistic given the level of fame Harry and Meghan have.
An insider told People magazine: "Members of the public know who they are. The idea that they can live a normal, 'private' life is sadly not realistic."
Rest of Harry's September Diary
Other engagements planned for September include the launch of INSPIRE, an education programme linked to the Invictus Games, and the WellChild Awards in London on September 21. WellChild is a charity supporting seriously ill children and their families, a cause Harry has backed since his early years as a working royal.
Each event is expected to be covered by a small number of specially selected journalists, it is understood.
